Fence-tightener



(No Model.)

. T. J. ANDRE.

FENCE TIGHTENBR.

No. 471,207. I v Patented-Mar. 22, 1892.

I i f'lwmad/lAndre.

NITED STATES ATENT FJFICE.

THOMAS J. ANDRE, OF VVAUSEON, OHIO.

FENCE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,207, dated March22, 1892.

Application filed May 19, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. ANDRE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vauseon, in the county of Fulton and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Fence- Tightener, of which the following is aspecification. I

This invention relates to fences, and more especially to thewire-stretchers used therein; and the object of the same is to producecertain improvements in devices of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the specific details ofconstruction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and asillustrated on the sheet of drawings, where- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a section of this improved fence, showing the wires asbeing tightened. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tightener when held inplace by the pin. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the tightener when held inposition by the staple. Fig. 4 is a detail in plan of my improvedtight'ener. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail showing the wires asconnected to the fastener and the staple as used to hold the parts inposition. Fig. 6. is a cross-sectional view taken through Fig. 5.

Referring to the said drawings, the letters P P designate posts seatedin the ground, and W W are Wires connecting the same. The postsrepresented are supposed to stand at a considerable distance from eachother, as at the corners of a field or lot, and in building the fencethe wires are first strung from post to post, as well understood.Afterward my improved stretcher is inserted at about the center of eachwire and the latter very tightly stretched. Panels or pickets K are thenbrought into vertical position at points along the wires and areconnected thereto by stapling, tying, or other suitable means. Thesepickets are arranged at such intervals as to prevent the stock fromcrowding the wires apart and crawling between the same through thefence. They prevent the unequal sagging or stretching of the wires, andthey give visual notice to the stock of the presence of the fence, sothat if the wires be barbed the stock will not be injured by rushing orpushing against the barbs.

My improved tightener comprlses a short roller R, having at its endssquared heads S,

Serial No. 393,319. (No model.)

the corners of one head standing opposite the faces of the other. Theseheads are to receive a wrench, and the body of the roller is providedwith a longitudinal slot L. .In the op eration of stretching the wirethe latter is strung from one end post to the other and then cut atabout its center and one end formed into an elongated loop E, which ispassed over the roller. The other end is passed through the'slot andconnected thereto or secured therein in anysuitable manner, the body ofthis end beyond the tie passing through the extremity of the loop, as atX. If then the roller be turned in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1,it will be obvious that both parts of the wire will be given a strongtension.

The roller may be turned by a wrench or wrenches of any approved form orconstruction, and there may be one at each end of the roller operated bya workman standing on that side of the fence. The roller being partiallyturned, a pin P is passed through the loop E into the slot L, when a newbite is taken with the Wrench, after which the roller is further turnedand a U-shaped staple U is passed under the unlooped wire W' beyond theloop E and its tips inserted in the ends of the slot- L. This holds theroller in position to maintain the tension of the wire until the wrenchcan be re-engaged for a new bite. If desired, however, the pin or thestaple may be used alone, and it will be obvious that the roller need begiven but a half-revolution from one point of locking before thefastener, whether it be the pin or the'staple, can be re-engaged withthe slot to hold the roller against a retrograde movement. With theheavy fence-wires now so extensively used no fastener will be necessary,as the stiffness of the wire will prevent a retrograde movement of thefastener.

The roller being of iron and cheaply constructed and the fastener beingbut a piece of wire of the proper shape and size, the tightener can beleftin the wire and the latter tightened from time to time as necessary,and in order to permit this the pickets K may be loosely stapled to thewires, or the tighteners can be taken off after the fence is finished byarranging the points of tightening in the several wires so that theywill break joint and by tightly stapling pickets to the wires at variouspoints. The wires and pickets become a net-work rigid and solid, and totake the tension off commence in the middle of the fence, take one ofthe center rollers off, draw the wire through the loop, bend the endback, and wrap it around its own wire securely. Then treat the otherwires in the same manner, the top and bottom wires last. In this way oneset of tighteners answers for an entire farm. I throw in this suggestionmerely to show the uses to which the invention can be put, and I am ofcourse aware that the construction and operation of the device itselfare not affected by the resultant functions or ad vantages.

hat is claimed as new is 1. In a fence, the combination, with two posts,wires leading inwardly thereform, and a loop in the end of one wire, ofa roller beneath said loop, provided with a slot in its body, the end ofthe other wire passing through the outer end of the loop and beingfastened into said slot, substantially as specified.

2. In a fence, the combination, with two posts, wires leading inwardlytherefrom, and a vertically-bent loop in the end of one wire, of aroller within the bend of said loop, said roller having a longitudinalslot in its body and an angular end, the end of the other wire passingthrough the outer end of the loop and being fastened into said slot, anda U -shaped fastener passed under the uulooped wire and having its tipsreinovably seated in said slot to prevent a retrograde movement of theroller after the latter is turned, as and for the purpose hereinbeforeset forth.

3. In a fence, the combination, with two posts, wires leading inwardlytherefrom, and a loop in the end of one wire, of a roller beneath saidloop, having a slot in its body, the end of the other wire passingthrough the outer end of the loop and being fastened into said slot, anda fastener for the roller, as and for the purpose set forth.

at. In a fence, the combination, with two posts, wires leading inwardlytherefrom, and a loop in the end of one wire, of a roller beneath saidloop, having a slotin its body and having its ends squared, with thecorners of one end standing opposite the faces of the other, the end ofthe other wire passing through the outer end of the loop and beingconnected with said slot, and a fastener for the roller, as and for thepurpose hereinbcfore set forth.

5. In a fence, the combination, with two posts and a fence-wire leadingfrom each post toward the other, of a roller having a longitudinal slotin its body, with which the inner ends of the fence-wires are connected,the ends of said roller being squared, with the corners of one endstanding opposite the faces of the other, and a U-shaped fastenerremovably seated in said slot, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A fence-tightener consisting of a roller having a longitudinal slotin its body, with which the inner ends of the fence-wires are connected,the ends of said roller being squared, with the corners of one endstanding opposite the faces of the other, and a U -shaped fastenerremovahly seated in said slot, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A fence-tightener consisting of a roller having a longitudinal slotin its body, with which the inner ends of the fence-wires are connected,the ends of said roller being squared, with the corners of one endstanding opposite the faces of the other, and a fastener for the roller,as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. ANDRE. Witnesses:

ELIAS WYsE,

A. D. NEWELL.

